What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

The Windows Server Migration Tools (WSMT) have shipped with Windows Server since version 2003. Admins can use them to transfer roles and features to a newer version of the operating system. Since Microsoft hasn't updated these tools for quite some time, they show some bugs when used with Server 2022. Nevertheless, the WSMT are still a viable option when upgrading Windows Server.

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What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Brandon Lee has been in the IT industry 15+ years and focuses on networking and virtualization. He contributes to the community through various blog posts and technical documentation primarily at Virtualizationhowto.com.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Depending on the role you want to migrate, there are alternatives to WSMT. For file servers, Microsoft has introduced the Storage Migration Service with Windows Server 2019. When updating domain controllers, admins usually install a new server and replicate the Active Directory database and SYSVOL to the new machine. However, WSMT are still useful when migrating roles such as DHCP and several local settings such as users and groups.

Installing and running WSMT ^

On the destination server, install the Windows Server Migration Tools using the Server Manager GUI. You can also use PowerShell to install the tools using the following command:

Install-WindowsFeature Migration –ComputerName 

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Install the Windows Server Migration Tools

Once you install the WSMT on the destination server, the workflow then allows you to deploy these tools to the source server. Here, I am using a UNC path, which is supported.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Deploy the server migration tools from the destination server to the source server

Note that the directory is created on the source server, as specified in the command run above.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Directory is created on the source server

Weird issues ^

In my testing with newer servers, I ran into multiple buggy behaviors with WSMT. After deploying the tools to the source server, you are supposed to run the SMIGDeploy.exe command on the source server and automatically register the PowerShell cmdlets. I ran into several oddities during this process, including:

  • .NET errors stating that .NET was not installed, even when it was installed
  • PowerShell crashes when registering the cmdlets
  • Access denied errors and memory corruption errors

Below, you can see the SMIGDeploy.exe file in the directory published to the source server from the destination server. Running this file registers the PowerShell cmdlets on the source server.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Viewing the SMIGdeploy.exe command

Even though the .NET feature was installed on the source server, I saw issues with the server not seeing the .NET components installed. Similar problems have been reported across various message boards, including TechNet. See here.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

NET errors even though .NET is installed on the source server

Workarounds ^

The workaround in my case was simply installing WSMT on the source server instead of using the published WSMT from the destination. After installing the Windows feature on the source server, I manually registered the snap-in using the cmdlet:

Add-PSSnapin Microsoft.Windows.ServerManager.Migration

Then, you can run the Export-SmigServerSetting cmdlet to export roles and features. The example below shows exporting the BranchCache feature to a target folder.

Export-SmigServerSetting -featureID  -User All -Group -path c:\SMIG -Verbose

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Exporting compatible roles and features from the source server

Once the feature ID is exported, you can then import the features on the destination server using the import cmdlet.

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Import-SmigServerSetting -FeatureID  -Path  -Verbose

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

Importing features using the WSMT import cmdlet

Conclusion ^

Microsoft hasn't improved the WSMT for several years. So when using them with Windows Server 2022, you will probably run into some annoying bugs. Nevertheless, they're still useful for certain scenarios where you don't have newer tools or an in-place update isn't an option.

What are the Windows Server migration Tools?

What are the Windows Server migration Tools quizlet?

Windows Server Migration Tools are PowerShell cmdlets and help files that enable administrators migrate certain roles between servers.

Which tool is used for migration?

Examples of cloud-based data migration tools are Alooma, Snaplogic, Stitch Data, AWS Migration Services, and Micro Focus PlateSpin Migration Factory.

What are the types of server migration?

Different Types of Server Migrations.
Mail Server Migration. Mail Server Migration is the process in which all emails, appointments, contacts, and other tasks from one email host are extracted and migrated to a new email host..
Virtual Server Migration. ... .
Azure Cloud Migration..

Does Windows have a migration tool?

You can use User State Migration Tool (USMT) 10.0 to streamline and simplify user state migration during large deployments of Windows operating systems. USMT captures user accounts, user files, operating system settings, and application settings, and then migrates them to a new Windows installation.